Protection Officer

 Vacancy Announcement

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs founded in Denmark in 1956. DRC has provided humanitarian assistance to people in need in Myanmar since 2009. DRC is currently engaged in humanitarian response in Rakhine, Kachin, and Northern Shan. In 2012, waves of inter-communal violence swept through Rakhine, forcing approximately 140,000 persons to flee their homes and take refuge in IDP camps spread across the state. DRC activities target these IDPs, as well as other local vulnerable populations such as host villages and isolated villages. DRC implements a multi-sector response, including Camp Management, GBV, Child Protection, General Protection, Economic Recovery, and WASH activities.

DRC Myanmar is funded by ECHO, SDC, DANIDA, DFAT, USAID, SIDA and UN agencies, including UNHCR, UNICEF, UNOPS and UNFPA.

To strengthen DRC’s Programme, DRC is looking for a highly motivated and capable candidate to fill the position of

Protection Officer (1 Post)

Duty Station                  : Sittwe Office, Rakhine State

Reports to                       : Protection Team Leader

Direct Reports               : No direct report

Overall purpose of the role:

The main responsibility of this position is to delivery Women Rise curriculum and GBV response service including supervision, mentoring, and building the capacities of case workers in the camp setting.

Geographic scope: Country (Myanmar)

GBV response and psychosocial support officer works as part of DRC’s GBV team, Sittwe under the direct supervision of the GBV response team leader and technical guidance of psychosocial support specialist. The role is based in Sittwe and shall conduct regular field visits to Sittwe and PaukTaw all camps, might need to travel Mrauk U and Kyauk Taw locations if it is necessary. The position holder will require working with women and girls at high risks of GBV that had been internally displaced in camps.

Responsibilities:

Women Rise Programming:

• Lead and implement structured PSS group (Women Rise) in the field areas and gather information and timely report to technical supervisor as a focal point.
• Participate in assessments and contribute to the overall intervention strategy based on feedback received from women and girls throughout Psychosocial Support programming.
• Supervise and capacitate facilitators and co-facilitators formally and informally to provide quality structural PSS sessions through training, daily mentoring, weekly meeting, and applying regular knowledge and skills assessment tools.
• Support in contextualization and adaptation of “Women Rise Structural” Curriculum into camp, villages and local community context;
• Develop monthly and weekly activity plans for Structural PSS groups with the support of GBV/PSS Specialist
• Monitor supply and logistical needs of WGC safe space and ensure adherence to all relevant DRC logistic policies;
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation activities including in assessments and surveys.
• Engage with prevention team in implementation of unstructured and semi-structured PSS activities (Women Rise) and dissemination of MHPSS key messages.
• Lead trauma-practiced Yoga by using DRC existing tools and involve in conducting regular Yoga session in the field areas If it is requested.

GBV RESPONSE ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTATION:

• Provide direct support and care for high risk GBV survivors and child survivors (related to GBV) including psychosocial support and case management process (Engagement, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Follow up, and Case Closure) in line with IASC GBV case management guideline.
• Work with stakeholders to strengthen referral network and assist in developing service mapping to enhance referral services for GBV survivors at the field areas. And it is circulated with incentive workers and other staff at women and girls’ centres.
• Ensure adherence to GBV guiding principles and the survivor-centred approach when any kinds of services are delivered to GBV survivors.
• Assess and analyse the service gaps in GBV prevention and response activities including men engagement activities, as well as provide suggestion/ finding with team members and senior staff in addressing the gaps.
• Prepare, organise, and conduct Safety Audit Assessment by using the tools of Focus Group Discussion, Key Informal Interview, and Observation if it is needed.

Program Management, Reporting, and Information Management:

• Keep accurate records of daily activities, GBV IMS forms, and IASC case management forms according to GBV IMS Information Management Protocol and organizational protocol.
• Collect and store all case documentations (soft copied files with password, and hard copied files with lock) safely and confidentially.
• Share weekly case management update to supervisor including identified new cases, discussed cases during that week, case follow up progress, case documentation, and so on.
• Immediately report to supervisor if she meets client at high risk of GBV and any challenge through conducting structured group PSS session and case meeting.
• Provide women rise activity report, collect activity data, and sit regular supervision meeting with psychosocial support specialist and GBV response team leader.
• Provide monthly report on GBV response and Women Rise activities such as key achievements, challenges , lesson learnt and follow up support needed from supervisor.
• Conduct ad-hoc and monthly case conference meeting with supervisor and attend case management supervision session provided by psychosocial support specialist.
• Report on field-based team members’ learning need, performance, and gap to supervisor.
• Monitor and engage incentive workers and field-based staff to comply with their duties and responsibilities.
• Assist in recruitment process of incentive workers and field-based team members with GBV team leader.

MENTORING AND OVERSIGHT OF FIELD BASED CASE WORKERS:

• Mentor, coach and provide technical support to them to keep effective communication skills, practise healing statements and relaxation techniques through meeting with the clients at high risk of GBV.
• Enhance capacity building through training and on-job training of field-based team members who commit to work in GBV response activities.
• Provide induction training to new team members to be deployed in women and girls’ centres in camp setting of Sittwe and Pauk Taw township in line with DRC GBV minimum standards.
• Conduct periodic assessment related to GBV knowledge, attitude, and capacity with them to address capacity gaps, and maintain quality GBV response and psychosocial support implementation.

COORDINATION:

• Maintain positive coordination and relationship with other partners in the field to promote multi-sector response on women and girls at high risks of GBV.
• Coordinate and collaborate with the prevention team to make sure the appropriate women and girls centres’ activities based on contexts.
• Collaborate with different stakeholders and other DRC departments (especially within protection and CCCM) to ensure safe referrals each other in line with GBV guiding principles.
• Collaborate with other NGOs to get the available service access depending on survivor’s need and consent.
• Coordinate with other DRC departments to ensure the effective use of logistical and financial resources.

HUMAN RESOURCES:

• Conduct performance evaluation of incentive workers in a timely manner.
• Recruit, monitor, supervise and provide ongoing support to GBV focal points working in the Women and Girls Centres.
• Evaluate the performance of field-based case workers (GBV Response) every 6 months together with GBV Response Team Leader.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Minimum 2 years of progressively responsible experience in women-specific areas and sensitive GBV issues at camp setting and conflict-affected locations.
• Must have 2 years’ experience working in GBV case management.
• Demonstrated experience in working on women and girls’ empowerment, human rights, gender equality or gender-based violence.
• Demonstrated experience in working on GBV case management and individual/group psychosocial support.
• Good to handle stress and high resilience, motivate to help women who are feeling distress, and able to work under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to actively listen and respond to women who feel distress and are high risk of GBV.
• Exhibited qualities of warmth, respect, genuineness, empathy, and acceptance with respect to GBV and psychosocial problems.
• Willingness to serve women who are affected by GBV violence and on their needs regardless of their ethnic backgrounds.
• Particularly commitment to work with either of the Rakhine and Rohingya communities.
• Knowledge and working experience in Rakhine context, as well as who can speak Rakhine and/or Rohingya dialect is preferred.  
• Advance computer literacy skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and who is familiar with online digital tools is preferred.

Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

• Education at least degree level in relevant area, & completed some courses related to gender equality, human rights, GBV case management, and basic psychosocial support.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Able to write report and communicate with colleagues in English (Intermediate Level is fine).
• Fluency English proficiency
• Additional local languages (Rakhine and Rohingya) would be an asset.

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• DRC Colleagues
• Community members and beneficiaries
• Donors

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:     

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.    
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.    
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.     
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.    
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. "

We Offer:

• Starting date of employment: As soon as possible.
• Contract length: Until 31 Dec 2023 includes a probationary period of 3 months. Renewables depend on both funding and performance.
• Salary: Competitive salary according to the DRC Myanmar salary scale.

This position is open for Myanmar Nationals only. DRC strongly advocates for equal opportunity and promotes a diversified and inspiring working environment. Therefore, qualified candidates of ethnic minorities and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application process:

Applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 24 May 2023

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.